ODT

North OtagoNovember 26

'We don’t want it to stop': jobs initiative proving a hit

The Waitaki District Council’s Mayor’s Taskforce for Jobs has exceeded expectations.

North OtagoMarch 20

Downer keeps parks contract

Downer has retained the Waitaki District Council parks maintenance contract it won four years ago, but faces pressure to perform after falling short of expectations at times during its first tenure.

North OtagoMarch 20

Technicalities delay report

Waitaki District Health Services is yet to file its annual report for the 2018-19 financial year with the Waitaki District Council, after the Office of the Auditor-general became involved in the process.

North OtagoMarch 2

$45,000 to be spent on improving Severn St stone walls

The Waitaki District Council will spend $45,000 on improving the stability of the Oamaru stone retaining walls in Severn St.

North OtagoOctober 5

Financial results above expectations

The Waitaki District Council is in a strong financial position, recording a healthy before-tax surplus more than $1.5 million better than predicted in July and a major improvement on a budgeted loss.

North OtagoJune 19

Councillor resigns due to health problems

A life-threatening brain haemorrhage in early January has forced Waitaki District councillor Sharyn Price to step down, after trying to fill the role since March as she recovers.

North OtagoMay 29

Courthouse future under discussion

Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher and community groups hope to meet Ngai Tahu representatives to discuss the Oamaru District Courthouse.

North OtagoMay 29

Stockpiles of legal highs still concern

Psychoactive substances are still a focus of Waitaki community groups, as anecdotal feedback suggests users have stockpiled the products ahead of new laws banning them in New Zealand.

North OtagoMay 22

New bond sought to retain film set

A new bond is being negotiated to keep a film set at the Falstone reserve on the shore of Lake Benmore, originally built in 2008 for a proposed film about the life of Jesus Christ.

North OtagoMay 15

Upgrades, new cell tower for district

The Waitaki District will get a new cellphone tower and upgrades to three sites in the next year, to improve mobile coverage and enable many rural residents to access wireless broadband.

North OtagoMay 2

Customers focus of new strategy

A new strategy being implemented by the Waitaki District Council is aimed at keeping up with the increasing expectations of customers seeking information and services.

NewsMay 2

Submission noticed in North

A joint stand by 13 South Island local authorities opposing aspects of earthquake-prone buildings legislation being introduced by the Government is making waves in the North Island, including at Cabinet level.

North OtagoMay 2

Gifts policy on table

For the first time, a gifts policy will dictate how Waitaki's mayor and councillors should receive or make gifts.

NewsApril 18

Welfare centres set up as travellers stranded

Welfare centres were set up last night in four North Otago towns along State Highway 1 to provide accommodation and food for motorists trapped by floodwaters.

North OtagoApril 18

Irrigation repayments $2.4 million

The North Otago Irrigation Company has paid back more of the $10 million loan from the Waitaki District Council and is planning major expansion of the scheme to fund the rest. The expansion will be the biggest since the scheme was built and opened in October, 2006, at a cost of about $65 million.

North OtagoMarch 20

Council moves on legal-highs policy

Psychoactive substances are not wanted in Oamaru or the wider Waitaki district, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said this week.

North OtagoDecember 26

Sole engineer has powerful job

While most people take the chance to get away from it all by taking a camping trip over the new year, a Hakataramea engineer will have the sole responsibility for keeping three of New Zealand's largest hydro-electric power stations ticking over.

North OtagoDecember 26

Resource recovery trust attempting to recoup loss

Initiatives are being undertaken by the Waitaki Resource Recovery Trust to recoup a small loss in the first three months of this financial year, caused by lower returns on recycled materials.

North OtagoDecember 19

Name could revert to Macraes

The township of Macraes Flat could undergo another name change, back to what it was in the 1880s - Macraes. Since then, the township has been officially gazetted at various times as being either Macraes or Macraes Flat, Macraes Flat being the present official name.

North OtagoOctober 2

Headquarters a quake risk

The Waitaki District Council headquarters in Oamaru is one of just two council-owned buildings known to be potentially earthquake-prone, according to the preliminary results of a seismic rating survey.

North OtagoOctober 1

Wind-damage danger spurs plan to fell forest

One of Oamaru's most prominent backdrops - Cape Wanbrow - could undergo a major visual change, under a proposal to be considered to fell its pine forest because it is so dangerous.

North OtagoSeptember 29

Subdivision playground put on hold

A playground proposed for the new Bluestone subdivision just south of Oamaru has been put on hold by the Waitaki District Council because of questions raised by councillors.

North OtagoSeptember 26

Council $2m surplus10 times budget forecast

A surplus of almost $2 million has been recorded by the Waitaki District Council in the last financial year, more than 10 times what it budgeted for.

North OtagoSeptember 22

Whitestone Contracting records loss

Waitaki District Council-owned Whitestone Contracting Ltd has recorded an overall loss for the past financial year, but continues to be a major employer in North Otago and contributor to its economy.

North OtagoSeptember 18

Harder to pick mayoral favourite

Having seven candidates standing for the Waitaki mayoralty has turned the contest into a bit of a lottery, making it difficult to pick a likely favourite.

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